Anne Catherine Schollick born

Thomas Higdon born

Tom and Annie are married

Tom and Annie are married in the Holy Trinity Church, Clifton, Gloucester

1901

July 26

Tom highly praised

Tom is highly praised in a testimonial written by the the Rector of St James’s Piccadilly on behalf of the school managers

1902

April 14

Wood Dalling County School

Commencement of teaching positions at Wood Dalling County School, Norfolk

August 2

Inadequate staffing levels at Wood Dalling

The school inspector report refers to inadequate staffing levels at Wood Dalling, just as Annie had already raised.

October 22

Tom ends up assaulting local farmer

Tom ends up assaulting local farmer, Mr Gamble for repeating taking children out of school to do farm work

November 16

Reports of Tom’s assault

The Norwich Mercury reports of Tom’s assault case.

1904

May 2

Higdons and managers are barely on speaking terms

The Clerk of Wood Dalling School Managers writes to the Norfolk Education Committee (E.C) to inform them that the Higdons and managers are barely on speaking terms, and that in both cases a change would be desireable

May 3

Tom Higdon had sent in his resignation

The school manager minutes record that Tom Higdon had sent in his resignation to the Education Committee (Tom had wanted to become the Attendance Officer of the Flegg District

Mr Gamble & Mr A. Williams

Tom had withdrawn his resignation

The next meeting of the managers notes that Tom had withdrawn his resignation as second teacher

1907

May 16

Mr JJ Bussens is elected as Chairman

Mr JJ Bussens is elected as Chairman of the School Managers

1908

December 1

First enquiry

First enquiry at Wood Dalling examining the tensions between the Higdons and the school managers

1909

February 22

Wood Dalling school reopens

Wood Dalling school reopens after closure due to a Diphtheria outbreak

1910

March 19

Tom & Annie’s election at the Wood Dalling Parish Elections

The Norwich Mercury records the Tom & Annie’s election at the Wood Dalling Parish Elections. Annie immediately retires her place for Mr W.Pulfer, and Tom replaces Mr JJ Bussens (local farmer/butcher/publican) as chairman of the Parish Council

July 17

Second enquiry

Second enquiry, after further friction between the school managers and Annie Higdon

August 2

Annie Higdon is asked to send in her resignation

Annie Higdon is asked to send in her resignation ‘…as the most prejudical form of removal.’

October 24

Tom Higdon receives a months notice

Tom Higdon receives a months notice to terminate his employment

November 30

Annie expresses her ‘sincere regret..

Under pressure to do so, Annie expresses her ‘sincere regret for my lack of discretion in addressing some of the managers of Wood Dalling school

December 15

The Clerk was directed to write to the E.C

At the managers meeting applications were several teachers were presented. The Clerk was directed to write to the E.C asking that all male team be appointed

December 17

Transfer the Higdons to Burston

In light of Annie’s apology, the committee endeavour to transfer the Higdons to Burston

1911

January 10

Discuss the appointment of a new head teacher

The managers’ of Burston Council School meet to discuss the appointment of a new head teacher

January 31

The Higdon’s arrive in Burston

The Higdon’s arrive in Burston during the evening, on foot after walking from Diss railway station.

February 1

Commencement of teaching position

Commencement of teaching position at Burston council school, Norfolk

1912

June 10

Glowing testimonial of the Higdon’s

Frederick Starr, Clerk to the school managers writes a glowing testimonial of the Higdon’s

Charles Fisher, writes a glowing testimonial of Tom Higdon

Good & improving report

The government inspector of schools gives a good & improving report only after one year with the Higdon’s in charge

November 29

Annie receives a letter from the Norfolk Education Committee

Annie receives a letter from the Norfolk Education Committee refering to a letter from the 13th Nov from the school managers asking if ‘…will kindly remove Mrs Higdon to a sphere more genial.’

1913

January 23

Rector again writes to the Norfolk Ed

Rector again writes to the Norfolk Ed. Com stating that the managers had ‘willingly acquiesced’ in certain alternations & improvements. Plus false allegations against A. Higdon’s treatment of the Barnardos children.

Large joint National Union of Railwaymen & Agricultural Labourers Union demonstration. Nine London branches of the N.U.R were represented with their banners

November 28

Repeated large demo

Repeated large demo by the N.U.R, A.L.U and the Vehicular Workers Union

1916

February 20

First of a series of London public meetings

First of a series of London public meetings organised by the N.U.R held at Kentish Town Public Baths. The Higdons and some 20 striking children present

February 21

Second of the N.U.R public meetings

Second of the N.U.R public meetings, held in Paddington

February 22

Third of the N.U.R public meetings

Third of the N.U.R public meetings, held in Bermondsey

February 23

Final N.U.R organised public meetings

Final N.U.R organised public meetings, held in Stratford

April 1

Two years after the start of the strike

Two years after the start of the strike, the Burston School Strike and Evicted Glebe Tenants National Committee is formed.

April 7

Special NUT conference at Buxton

Special NUT conference at Buxton, considered a motion (which fell) against the unions Tenure Committee in its inadequate handling of the Higdon case.

1917

January 27

Special meeting of Norfolk County Council

Special meeting of Norfolk County Council is held to discuss George Edwards motion calling on the council to appoint a deputation to hold a public inquiry into the Burston School Strike

February 18

Set the date for the grand opening demonstration as 13 May 1917

The National Committee of the Burston School Strike & Evicted Glebe Tenants meet in the Burston Crown and set the date for the grand opening demonstration as 13 May 1917

February 26

New inquiry against the allegations made against Annie

Both the vice president and president of the N.U.T visit Burston to hear evidence in the new inquiry against the allegations made against Annie

April 12

A special NUT meeting takes place in London

A special NUT meeting takes place in London. During which a motion calling on ‘…the full resources of the union to be used to secure the Higdons reinstatement.’ is debated but fails to pass

May 13

The new ‘Strike School’ was declared open

The new ‘Strike School’ was declared open by Violet Potter. George Langsbury, MP lays the foundation stone

June 1

Disagreement between Higdon supporter Mr Garnham

After a disagreement between Higdon supporter Mr Garnham over a memorial tablet placed in the Church to his son, Tom (with others) is summoned for having ‘…used abusive and insulting language to the Rev. Eland and his wife’ .

1919

April 10

Tom was defeated in the Parish Elections

Tom was defeated in the Parish Elections, which was mainly spilt down party lines. Tom’s labour group lost out as England was engulfed by post war conservatism

1920

February 21

George Durbridge shot dead by his son after returning home in a drunken rage

George Durbridge; conservative, fish seller but Higdon supporter who chaired the first (and other) meetings on the Green, shot dead by his son after returning home in a drunken rage

1923

April 1

At the ninth anniversary meeting

At the ninth anniversary meeting, Tom speaks at length on the ongoing farm workers strike.

1937

August 20

Depwade Rural District Council meeting

At a Depwade Rural District Council meeting, Tom (who was a councillor) is recorded as championing the family evicted from a farm cottage in Burston

1938

August 12

Depwade Council meeting vigoursly opposing grants

Recorded, again at a Depwade Council meeting vigoursly opposing grants to farmers for the building of tied accommodation.

1939

May 23

Tom Higdon died

1946

April 24

Annie Catherine Higdon died

The longest strike in history was not staged by miners but by minors – the children of a small village in Norfolk.

On 1 April, 1914, pupils of the Burston village school, supported by their parents, took to the streets in protest at the dismissal of their teachers, Tom and Kitty Higdon. The strike lasted for over 25 years.

The Strike School was built in resistance to the victimisation faced by the Higdon’s for wanting to improve the living conditions of the agricultural labourers’ , and for believing that a decent education was the right of all.

Welcome to the site of the Burston School Strike and its legacy.

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